SPOKANE, Wash – In January, the Washington State Department of Health launched an initiative to implement kiosks across the state that offer free COVID-19 and flu tests and other healthcare supplies funded by local jurisdictions.
“This is a program that has the ability to be super adaptive to public health concerns,” said Kristi Allen, the Community Testing Supervisor at the Washington Department of Health.
This new pilot program aims to make free COVID-19 and Flu test kits more accessible.
“one thing we certainly see throughout the state is gaps in health equity, health care, accessibility to medical resources,” said Allen.
There are 2020 strategically placed kiosks across the state … aimed to serve regions that are un or underinsured, or typically typical wouldn’t have resources to free testing resources as they are becoming more scarce.
The kiosk in Spokane is located in the Hillyard neighborhood at the North East Community Center.
Devyn Bell from the Spokane Regional Health District said in a weekend the kiosk dispensed around 50 tests. Bell told NonStop Local that the goal of these kiosks is to make healthcare more accessible when it comes to covid and flu.
“What’s really great about it, is it’s available 24/7, so people can come and grab a test whenever it’s the most convenient for them.”
While the kiosk in Spokane only carries COVID and Flu tests, Allen said other kiosks across the region have a more expansive selection of products, “we do have a few jurisdictions that have opted to include things like Narcan, naloxone, reproductive health supplies, and basic safety equipment.”
The kiosk program is set to end on Dec. 31 but Allen said there are conversation about what this program could look like in the future.
